Process of hydrogenation.



i of matter disclosed in ny a1 ELLIS, OE MONTGLAIE, NEW (FERSEY.

- ormcn PWUCESS 01E HYDRQGENATIUN.

Ill. 9 o

lt'o Drawing.

present invention relates to efl'ecting cata ytl c reactions, such as the hydrogenation of oil for example, by use of catalyzers and relates in particular to the use of particular catalytic materials'which include a finely divided material com rising a 1precipitated agent containing nic elor simi ar catalytic substance with silica or silicon.-

lhis application is in part a continuation copending application 686 988 (now 1U. lPatent 1,217,118) particular y as to the use of colloidal silica in combination with nickel and other analogous mixtures of these two materials.

hardening ofoil and the like, it is common practice to support the metal (or other metallic materia employed) on a base or carrier, such as inert supporting material like pumice or kieselguhr. Uwing to the great irregularity in size of the particles obtained till.

- the like (in addition to by crushing pumice stone or by using ideselguhr, whic after weathering often contains particles which are very variable in there is some objection to the use of these supporting materials. By the resent invention-an extending material w ich'is in the nature of a precipitated body is or may be employed. Fort is purpose, silica preci itated as a product of great fineness and of a substantial degree of uniformity in size may be used to extend, for example nickel, or similar-catalyzers or the oxid or sub-oxid of this or other catalytic metals or mixtures thereof to form an a cut capable under the proper conditions of accomplishing rapid catalytic action. Thus, various metals, such as the base metals cobalt, copper, iron and the nickel above referred to) or their oxids, hydroxide, carbonates or other compounds or derivatives thereof may be used in a similar manner. The precipitated material may be washed to remove any soluble material and may then be used for oil hardening without. revious reduction, or the material may be t reducm by heatin in an atmosphere of m Prior to rying the material, after the pm specification of ltetterc Patent. application filed novemter as, 1914. Serial no. crater.

is of importance, in the operations and so forth-is t In the preparation of catalyzers for the size,

Patented May at, rate.

cipitation has been edected, ifdesired a small quantity of a palladium salt ma be added, so as to secure a joint action of oth nickel and palladium. The dried material may be ignited in a current of hydrogen or other suitable reducing nickel salts, such as nickel fluosilicate may be mixed with lime or other base to efl'ect the required chemical change and precipitation, which accomplishes the production of an extender having the qualities set forth above and others. The use of material precipitated in this manner adords a catalyzer which has better distributing powers and is more suitably suspended in oil than is the case with ground pumice and the like. An-

other objection to the use of natural mineral" materialcm which seems insignificant but actually from the manufacturing standpoint handling of large quantities of catalyzer durin the reducing at often it is desired to employ agitators or stirring devices and it is found that with pumice and the like the working parts of the apparatus quickly become scored and abraded. In a similar manner in the hydrogenation of the oil when stirrers are employed the erosive mineral material afi'ords a scoring action which is oftentimes very serious, causing leakage of the oil and frequent replacement of the working parts and oftentimes causing a considerable loss of hydrogen gas. Finelydivided earths not infrequently contain particles of quartz or other hard substances, causing a pronounced scoring action.

In t e present instance it becomes possible to prepare an extended catalyzer without the danger of the presence of such abrasive material and furthermore the suspending or floating qualities of the material are particularly good. As an illustration of a catalyze'r' of this type the following will serve: Silicon tetrafluorid is repared by heatin a mixture of calcium uorid, sand and en furlc acid and the gases evolved are led into water where the silica preci itates in a gelatinous form. as a hydrated co loidal pletely destroy the colloidal e1 form or condition of the silicic acid. very light powdery or feathery product is obtained gas. Similarly, other which is mixed with a solution of nickel.

nitrate and the product is dried, ignited and reduced. Or nickel hydrate is precipitated from a nickel solution by the addition of suitable precipitant such as alkali solution. This material is then washedand dried anda J employed in combination with silica for catalytic purposes. Or,'it first may be reduced by" hydrogen. Again, the preclpitated silica may be mixed with a solution of nickel nitrate, dried and i nited, so as to give ap proximately 20% o nickel with the silica.

This material when reduced in a current of hydrogen at a moderate temperature is a most intimate contact, mixture orcombination of the two bodies is secured.

Nickel silicid catalysts and the use of the same in hydrogenation are not specifically claimed-herein, but form the subject matter of my copending applications 115,113, filed Aug. 3, 1916, and 121,494, filed September 21, 1916, (now Patent No. 1,255,590.)

What I claim'isz' 1. A catalytic material comprising a catalytically actlve finely divided metal extended by precipitated non-abrasive silica.

2. A catalytic material comprising finely divided nickel extended by precipitated nontime of finely divided abrasive silicon-containing material.

3. A catalytic agent comprising grains containing non-abrasive precipitated silicacontainin material and metallic nickel interspers therethrou'gh.

4. A catalyst comprisinian intimate mixnic el and non-abra: sive silica-containing material.

5. A catalyst comp an intimate mixture of finely divided nic el and non-abrasive precipitated silica,

the presence of a catalytic body a material to be hydrogenated, and

6. In the chemical aflixation of hydrogen to substances, the step of treating the sub stance to be hydrogenated with hydrogen in comprising a non abrasive silicon containing materla associated with a metal-containing substance capable of serving as a hydrogenating cata- 1 st.

7. The process of effecting reactions between a hydrogen and substance capable of reacting therewith, which process comprises bringing the said substances together 1n the presence of a catalytic body comprising a siliceous finely divided material, in intimate association with nickel, said catalytic body being free from abrasive material.

8. A process of effecting reactions which comprises bringing the reactive substances together in the presence of a catalyst in a non-abrasive condition, said catalyst containing silica and nickel, and at least a part of wh1ch is in a colloidal condition.

9. A process which comprises subjecting a material to be hydrogenated, and hydro-. gen, to the action of a catalytic body comprising nickel and silica, both in a nonabrasive condition, and being associated with other metal containing material having catalytic properties.

10. A process which comprises subiectiing rogen,to the action of a c taly-tic body comprising nickel and silica, oth in a non-abrasive condition, and bein associated with a metal of the palladium group.

11. A process which comprises sub'ecting amaterial capable of reacting with ydrogen, to the action of hydrogen in the resence of a catalyzer comprising colloida silica and nickel.

12. A process which comprises s'ub'ecting a material capable of reacting with ydrogen, to the action of hydrogen in the presence of a non-abrasive catalyzer comprlsing nickel and silica.

Signed at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, this 21st day of November, A. D. 1914.

' CAltLETON ELLIS. Witnmses: I

A. A. W, B. M. Erma. 

